Soft illumination before sunrise or after sunset (8)

Latest answer — September 05, 2026

17 Across

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Clue explained

TWILIGHT is the soft, subdued light around dawn before sunrise or dusk after sunset, when the Sun is below the horizon.

Clue type:
Definition
A softly lit sky at twilight above the horizon

Guardian Quick Crossword

This clue's Saturday, September 05, 2026 appearance

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Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

  1. 1Animal-watching expedition - web browser (6)
  2. 4Fermented milk drink (5)
  3. 7Malaysian island state (6)
  4. 8Turn down - rubbish (6)
  5. 9___board (instrument panel) (4)
  6. 10Spiral dive of an aeroplane (8)
  7. 12Handheld kitchen utensil - large crisps (anag) (6,5)
  8. 17Soft illumination before sunrise or after sunset (8)
  9. 19"___ Sesame" (4)
  10. 20___ would be a fine thing (6)
  11. 21I've got it! (6)
  12. 22Poet whose first names were William Butler (5)
  13. 23Metal paper fastener (6)

Down

  1. 1Programming's #! - the whole ___ (7)
  2. 2Weight, bed or duster (7)
  3. 3Is this rugby position likely to be blue? (5,4)
  4. 4Genuflect (5)
  5. 5Awkward mistake (4,3)
  6. 6Feeling regret (6)
  7. 11Not able to wait, restless (9)
  8. 13Folk tale's Arabian woodcutter (3,4)
  9. 14Self-gratifying journey? (3,4)
  10. 15Little spot of colour (7)
  11. 16Gooey - like a twig? (6)
  12. 18Tiny bone in middle ear (5)

The answer to “Soft illumination before sunrise or after sunset (8)” in the The Guardian Quick crossword is TWILIGHT — a 8-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Guardian Quick crossword on September 5, 2026, a Saturday puzzle, at 17-Across. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“Soft illumination before sunrise or after sunset (8)” answer

TWILIGHT (8 letters)

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is TWILIGHT.

What does TWILIGHT mean?

Reading the plain dictionary sense of TWILIGHT is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.

(noun)

  • the soft glowing light from the sky when the sun is below the horizon, caused by the reflection of the sun's rays from the atmosphere
  • a period or state of obscurity, ambiguity, or gradual decline

When else has “Soft illumination before sunrise or after sunset (8)” appeared?

The Guardian Quick reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

September 5, 2026 (most recent) → TWILIGHT. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Soft illumination before sunrise or after sunset (8)”?

The answer is TWILIGHT, a 8-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Guardian Quick crossword on September 5, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Soft illumination before sunrise or after sunset (8)”?

8 letters: TWILIGHT.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Guardian Quick crossword on September 5, 2026 (a Saturday puzzle), at 17-Across.

Can “Soft illumination before sunrise or after sunset (8)” have a different answer?

Yes — The Guardian Quick sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day's Guardian Quick answers?

The full grid for September 5, 2026 is on the Guardian Quick answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

The Guardian Quick Crossword is published by The Guardian; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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